Microsoft: The GDPR is for All!

Tomorrow is the big day! The General Data Protection Regulation becomes effective Friday. Earlier this week, the deputy general counsel of Microsoft made an important announcement: "we will extend the rights that are at the heart of GDPR to all of our consumer customers worldwide." If you have data stored by Microsoft you'll have the same rights as a EU citizen to request that they disclose, correct, or delete it - no matter where you're from. Microsoft has set up an online site where you can initiate the process.

The 'privacy dashboard' allows you to view and clear different types of data;

1. Browsing history

2. Search history

3. Location data

4. Product performance data

5. Health data

You can also manage your privacy settings on this site, and download an archive of your personal data.

I have to say that despite the fact that I've been using Windows and other Microsoft products for years now, none of my data is actually available through the dashboard at this point.

I guess it remains to be seen how useful Microsoft's new services are in practice.